Compass

You have taught me so, so much!

Humidity can be a warm, comforting hug.

The proper way to press a dumpling.

Writing is so important to me.

When you love an outfit you should wear it twice. In a row.

Perspective IS everything.

You don’t have to honk at people even if you almost hit them, you can just calmly let chaos pass all around; honking doesn’t have to be angry, it can be simple communication.

Never underestimate your need for coffee. If you drink it, you need it.

Family style meals are the best. Family style meals with Xuzhou adult-version drinking games are even better.

Your squat game can be the difference between peeing on yourself and keeping clean shoes.

And you have given me much to take home.

You showed me the power of listening; for some, we were the first to lend more than 1 minute to their child’s life story, at that in it of itself gave them healing, a feeling of being understood, value— (I love that God already knows their whole story!)

You showed me the beauty of my smallness; I serve such an AWESOME God who loves me immeasurably and lets me be a part of his plans in the most amazing ways!

You showed me the power of bearing good and disappointing news and the importance of focusing on the strengths of each individual; everyone has a strength.

You have showed me how to see other perspectives, whether or not you agree with them; seeing through another’s eyes is the key to understanding, especially, when in another culture.

You showed me how important family is to me, having one, protecting one, building one; each family’s story is so important in getting to know a child and finding them lasting help.

You gave me the realization that there is more good than bad, but there isn’t always more right than wrong.. life is a strange paradox at times, full of fixes and never ending problems. As a speech therapist and just a human in general I can’t fix everything, I won’t even have half of the answers— but then again, you don’t need all that to change a life.

You made me more excited than ever to embrace the comforts of my home in the US: 1) bathrooms complete with toilets, toilet paper and hand wash 2) the ease of speaking in English and being understood 3) black coffee 4) unblocked access to news, google search engines, and the occasional Snapchat 5) the knowledge of what I’m eating 6) a washer and drier 7) chocolate, tacos, and a good margarita 8) the freedom of religion & having my believing community 9) blasting music while getting ready for the day 10) summertime with the fab five in San Clemente

You have woken me from my slumber, giving me time with my Heavenly Father, encouragement, insight, and hardship to recalibrate my life as needed.

(I believe the visitor typically returns the most changed; you can’t try to provide hope and remain unchanged.)

I’m so thankful for everyone who had my spiritual six while I was with you and will continue their careful watch as I go through life back home.

If people felt God’s love through translated therapy, imagine what could be felt when you live in a shared language harmony..

Here’s to bringing my mission field home and bringing it to another country in the near future.

xiè xie

Riley Makenna